Rangers vs. Utah HC: 3 things to watch for in home opener at Madison Square Garden

After a resounding 6-0 win in their season opener on the road against the Pittsburgh Penguins earlier in the week, the New York Rangers return to Madison Square Garden for their first home game of 2024-25 when they host the Utah Hockey Club on Saturday.

There’ll be another notable first on Saturday. It’s the first all-time meeting between the Rangers and the Utah Hockey Club, which doesn’t have a nickname for its inaugural season. The Arizona Coyotes were sold to Ryan Smith this past offseason and relocated to Utah.

So, the Rangers won’t be facing an expansion team, but rather a dangerous one that has the looks of an up-and-comer this season. Utah won its first two games, 5-2 at home against the Chicago Blackhawks and 5-4 in overtime against the Islanders at UBS Arena on Thursday.

This could be a stiffer test for the Rangers than the season opener Wednesday, when they had a 3-0 lead at the first intermission and shut out the Penguins behind 29 Igor Shesterkin saves.

“They’re a skilled group, definitely on the younger side, but they’re very opportunistic,” forward Reilly Smith said about Utah . “I think they may have the ability to turn some heads this year and can take advantage of teams that aren’t giving them the respect they deserve.”

Related: Victor Mancini adjusting to life with Rangers, preparing for MSG debut

3 things to watch for when Rangers host Utah HC in 2024-25 home opener

1. Home sweet home

It’s always good to be at home, especially when you’re the Rangers and have been largely a dominant team at Madison Square Garden the past few years. The Rangers were 30-11-0 on home ice last season, the second-best home mark in the NHL behind the Colorado Avalanche (31-9-1). They also tied the franchise record for most home wins in a season, originally set in 1970-71.

Since the start of the 2022-23 season, the Rangers are 53-24-5 at MSG, tied for third in the NHL in home victories.

The home opener is always fun with The Garden going all out during pregame player introductions. Matt Rempe is expected to be in the lineup, making his season debut , so you can expect the roof to be blown off the building when he’s introduced. The question is, will the popular fourth liner gets a louder ovation than Shesterkin, Chris Kreider, Adam Fox or Artemi Panarin?

2. Birthday boys

Cheating a little bit here, but Alexis Lafreniere turned 23 on Friday, so he could extend his birthday celebration against Utah. Remember, in the Rangers’ final meeting against the Coyotes last season, Lafreniere exploded for his first NHL hat trick and an NHL career-high five points in a wild 8-5 win in the desert on March 30. Many of those former Coyotes players are currently with Utah.

Lafreniere got off to a fast start in Pittsburgh on Wednesday. He scored a beauty of a goal in the first period, on a partial breakaway, and also added an assist.

Fellow forward Adam Edstrom celebrates his 24th birthday on Saturday, and will be in the lineup for a second straight game. Edstrom logged 10:48 in ice time on the fourth line, and played some on the penalty kill after earning a roster spot following an excellent preseason.

3. No easy task

Many hockey experts peg the Utah Hockey Club to be a playoff contender this season. There was already a budding base of talented young players growing with the Coyotes, but now Utah has supplemented that by adding the likes of defensemen Mikhail Sergachev and Ian Cole, and forward Kevin Stenlund, for veteran leadership and stability.

But make no mistake, it’s the youngsters that have stood out early on. Dylan Guenther scored the first goal in Utah history and leads the NHL with four goals , two apiece in each of the first two games. Logan Cooley has four assists, and Barret Hayton has two goals an an assist.

They’re fast and skilled, and will be a handful for the Rangers on Saturday.

New York Rangers projected lineup

Kreider – Zibanejad – Smith

Panarin – Trocheck – Lafreniere

Cuylle – Chytil – Kakko

Edstrom – Carrick – Rempe

Miller – Fox

Schneider – Trouba

Jones – Mancini

Shesterkin

Quick

Check back for updates after Rangers coach Peter Laviolette meets with the media Saturday morning.

Rangers vs. Utah HC: When, where, what time, how to watch

Who: New York Rangers vs Utah HC

Where: Madison Square Garden

When: Saturday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. ET

How to Watch: MSG

Click here for New York Rangers complete 2024-25 schedule and game results

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